Hydraulic valve device



3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Mardi 6, 1955 J. A. MoosMAN HYDRAULIC VALVE DEVICE Filed Feb. 3, 1953 ./QCK 4, MOOSM/QN Ma'rch 6, 1956 J. A. MoosMAN 2,737,246

HYDRAULIC VALVE DEVICE s sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

77'7'0PNE4/5 Jc n, Maas/mw Filed Feb. 15, 1953 Mal'Ch 5, 1955 J. A. MOOSMAN HYDRAULIC VALVE DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 3, 1953 United States Patent O HYDRAULIC VALVE DEVICE Jack A. Moosman, Glendale, Calif., assigner to Johnston Testers, Inc'., Houston, Tex., a corporation of Delaware Application February 3, 1953, Serial No. 334,889

Claims. (Cl. 166-148) This invention relates to oil well tools, and particularly to a formation testing tool.

Thev conventional formation testing tool, such as disclosed in the patent to M. O. Johnston, No. 2,073,107, includes a packer adapted to be set in a well bore to separate the formation zone from the well uid thereabove, valves for controlling upward flow of the connate uid in the tool, and 4an equalizing valve to `allow well fluid to bypass the packer during running the tool in-or out of the well. Where the well iluid passes through the same passage in the tool as the connate lluid, it is essential that the' connate fluid valve be closed when the equalizing valve is open and vice versa.

It is a main object of the present invention to provide an improved-formation tool of the above general type and particularly one wherein there is a novel hydraulic mechanism. controlling opening'and closing movement of the connate uid `andequalizing valves.

Another objectrof the present invention is to provide a tooll as above described wherein connate fluid valve pfo'rts and'equalizing valve ports are provided in a single tubular mandrel so slidably received by a tubular housing that when the mandrel is lowered relative to the housing, the connate uidports will be opened and the equalizing ports will be closed.

Various other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figs. la, lb,and lc are longitudinal views partly in section of the upper, middle and lower portions of a tool embodying the concepts'of the present invention, showing thesame in its running-in condition.

Figs. 2u and 2b are views similar to Figs. la and 1b, respectively, but showing the tool as having been operated to-close the equalizing ports, but with the connate fluid ports remaining closed.

Figs. 3a and' 3b are views' similar to Figs. 2a `and 2b, but showing the tool at a subsequent stage of operation where the equalizing ports are closed and the connate fluid ports are open.

Fig. 4' is a horizontal sectional view taken `along line 4 4 ofFig. 1b.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, there is disclosed a tool embodying the concepts of thepresent invention including` a composite tubular mandrel generally entitled 7 slidably received within a composite tubular housing generally entitled 9, said housing being connected at its lower end to a tool section 1i) carrying va packer 11 and a perforated section 13 through which yconnate fluid may enter the tool. At its upper end, mandrel 7 has a sub 15 for attachment to the lower endof atubing' string of pipe 17, by which the tool may be run into 'a well bore.

' Housing 9 includes four tubular sections 19, 21, 23 and 25, reading from' topto bottom, said sections being threadedly connected in' end-to-end relation as shown, the lower section 25 having depending therefrom a sub 27 forattach- "ice ment to tool section 10. Mandrel 7 comprises three sections 29, 31 and 33 threadedly connected in end-to-endrelation, the upper section being connected to sub 15, previously mentioned. Top housing section 19 at its upper end slidably receives upper mandrel section 29 and is disposed in sealing engagement with the cylinder walls andr the exterior of mandrel section 31, respectively. The liquid in cylinder 41 is adapted to -be forced therefrom upon downward movement of mandrel 7 relative to housingy 9 through a metering orice arrangement 47 into a reservoir 49 provided by housing section 21.

The upper end of housing section 21 slidably engages mandrel section 31 `and an O-ring seal 51 carried by housing section 21 prevents leakage from cylinder 41 into reservoir 49 other than through orifice arrangement 47. Disposed within reservoir 49 is slidably disposed a floating piston 53 sealingly engaging the reservoir walls by means of an O-ring vseal 55, and sealingly engaging the exterior of mandrel section 3i by means of an O-ring seal 57. Reservoir 49 communicates with the exterior of the housing by means of ports 59 formed in the wa-lls of housing section 2l. lt is apparent that metering orifice arrangement 47 functions to retard downward telescopic movenient of mandrel 7 within housing 9. To allow ready upward telescopic movement of the mandrel and housing there is provided an upwardly opening check valve arrangement 61 provided in the upper end of housing section 21 and communicating on its opposite sides with the reservoir and cylinder.

The lower end of mandrelsection 31 is slidably received by the upper end of housing section 23, there being an O-ring seal 63 on the housing section sealingly engaging said mandrel section. Connate fluid test ports 65 are formed in the walls of mandrel sections 3l, and are initially closed and covered by the opposing walls of housing section 23. Housing section 23 carries packing 67 sealingly engaging mandrel section 33, there being a packing gland 69 threadedly received by housing section 23 and functioning to retain packing 67 in place. Packing gland 69 is counterbored to provide a recess 71 within which connate luid test ports 65 can be projected and exposed. Longitudinal passages 73 are formed in housing section 25 and communicate with recess 71 at their upper ends and at their lower ends with the interior of sub 27.

Equalizing ports 75 are formed in the walls of mandrel section 33, and an annular recess 77 is formed in housing section 25 initially surrounding the ports. Annular recess 77 communicates with the exterior of the housing by means of passages or ports 79, see Fig. 4. Sealingly engaging mandrel section 33, above and below equalizing ports 75, are sealing means 31 and S3 carried by housing section 25, the latter sealing means assuming the form of packing and being retained in place by a packing gland 85. It is apparent that the distance of downward movement of mandrel 7 necessary tocover ports 75 (i. e., dispose the ports within the packing` 83) is substantially less than that necessary to uncover connate fluid test ports 65.

Provided in mandrel 7 between connate fluid test ports 65 and equalizing ports 75 is a downwardly opening check valve 87 urged upwardly by a spring 89.

The operation of the tool is as follows: With the tool as arranged in Figs. la, lb, and 1c, the tool is run into the well by being suspended from a string of pipe. As the tool is being lowered into the well, well fluid in the well can pass up through perforated section l@ bypassing packer 1l into mandrel 7 and out through ports 7S, thereby allowing ready downward movement of the tool through the well. The tool would otherwise be retarded in downward movement because of the close spacing of packer 11 relative to the walls of the well bore.

The packer l1 is now set and as the weight of the string of pipe is partially imposed on mandrel 7, piston 39 is forced slowly downwardly forcing the hydraulic fluid within cylinder 4l through metering orice arrange ment 47 into reservoir 419, this action forcing piston 53 downwardly and the well uid within the reservoir out through ports 59.

As the mandrel '7 moves downwardly, equalizing ports 7S will iirst be closed, and thereafter after considerable movement of the mandrel connate liuid test ports 65 will be brought into registry with and exposed within recess 7l. Consequently connate iiuid may ilow up through perforated section 13, through passages 73, into recess 71, into test ports d and upwardly into the string of pipe.

After the sample has been taken, the string of pipe may be pulled upwardly, this action drawing piston 3% upwardly, such movement being readily permitted because the hydraulic iluid disposed in reservoir 49 is allowed to freely pass upwardly through check valve arrangement 61. Well uid enters behind piston 53 so that movement of the piston is not retarded. This up ward movement functions iirst to cover connate iluid test ports 65 and thereafter expose equalizing ports 7S within annular recess 77. When the packer is unseated, upward movement of the tool is readily permitted because the well iluid above the packer can readily pass through passages 79 and equalizing ports 75 down through the tool and out through perforated section 13 to thereby bypass packer 1l.

By the present invention, a novel formation tool has been provided whereby connate fluid ports and equalizing ports are provided in a single mandrel, and wherein novel hydraulic means are provided for retarding collapsing movement of the tool to enable the tool to be readily run into the well without danger of improperly opening the valves of the tool.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In an oil well tool of the class described, a tubular housing adapted to be connected at its lower end to a packer, a tubular mandrel slidable longitudinally within said housing in sealing engagement therewith and adapted to be connected at its upper end to a tubing string, an internal recess in said housing intermediate its ends and above the lower end of said mandrel, passage means in said housing connecting said recess with the lower end of said housing below said mandrel, test ports in said mandrel, said ports being out of register with said recess and closed by said housing when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing and in register with said recess when said mandrel is in its lower position relative to said housing, bypass passage means in said housing below said recess connecting the lower portion of said housing with the well bore outside of said housing, said bypass passage means being open only when the mandrel is in its upper position, said mandrel being adapted to close said bypass passage means prior to bringing said test ports into register with said recess when said mandrel is lowered relative to said housing.

2. ln an oil well tool of the class described, a tubular housing adapted to be connected at its lower end to a packer, a tubular mandrel slidable longitudinally within said housing in sealing engagement therewith and adapted to be connected at its upper end to a tubing string, an internal recess in said housing intermediate its ends and above the lower end of said mandrel, passage means in said housing connecting said recess with the lower end ot' said housing below said mandrel, test ports in said mandrel, said ports being out of register with said recess and closed by said housing when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing and in register with said recess when said mandrel is in its lower position relative to said housing, bypass passage means in said housing below said recess connecting the lower portion of said housing with the well bore outside of said housing, said bypass passage means being open only when the mandrel is in its upper position, said mandrel being adapted to close said bypass passage means prior to bringing said test ports into register with said recess when said mandrel is lowered relative to said housing, and hydraulic means between said mandrel and housing for retarding the downward movement of said mandrel relative to said housing but permitting free movement of said mandrel upwardly relative to said housing.

3. In an oil well tool of the class described, a tubular housing adapted to be connected at its lower end to a packer, a tubular mandrel slidable longitudinally within said housing in sealing engagement therewith and adapted to be connected at its upper end to a tubing string, an internal recess in said housing intermediate its ends and above the lower end of said mandrel, passage means in said housing connecting said recess with the lower end of said housing below said mandrel, test ports in said mandrel, said ports being out of register with said recess and closed by said housing when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing and in register with said recess when said mandrel is in its lower position relative to said housing, bypass passage means in said houing below said recess connecting the lower portion of said housing with the well bore outside of said housing, said bypass passage means being open only when the mandrel is in its upper position, said mandrel being adapted to close said bypass passage means prior to bringing said test ports into register with said recess when said mandrel is lowered relative to said housing, hydraulic means for retarding the downward movement of said mandrel relative to said housing but permitting free movement of said mandrel upwardly relative to said housing, said hydraulic means including a piston on the mandrel received within a liquid filled cylinder on the housing, a iluid reservoir in the housing connected to the cylinder by a metering orifice, and a check valve opening from the reservoir toward the cylinder.

4. in an oil well tool of the class described, a tubular housing adapted to be connected at its lower end to a. packer, a tubular mandrel slidable longitudinally within said housing in sealing engagement therewith and adapted to be connected at its upper end to a tubing string, an internal recess in said housing intermediate its ends and above the lower end of said mandrel, passage means in said housing connecting said recess with the lower end of said housing below said mandrel, test ports in said mandrel, said ports being out of register with said recess and closed by said housing when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing and in register with said recess when said mandrel is in its lower position relative to said housing, a downwardly opening check valve in said mandrel below said test ports, bypass passage means in said housing below said recess connecting the lower portion of said housing with the well bore outside of said housing, said bypass passage means being open only when the mandrel is in its upper position, said mandrel being adapted to close said bypass passage means prior to bringing said test ports into register with said recess when said mandrel is lowered relative to said housing.

5i In* an'oil well? tool ofthe class described, a tubular housingv adaptedr to'be connected at its lower en'd to a packer, a' tubular mandrel slidable longitudinally within said housing in sealing engagement therewith and adapted to be connected'at its upper end to a tubing string, an internal recess in said housing intermediate its ends and above the lower end of said mandrel, passage means in saidhousingI connecting said recess' with the lower end offsaid housing below said mandrel, tests ports in said mandrel, said ports being out of register with said recess and closed by said housing when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing and in register with said recess when said mandrel is in its lower position relative to said housing, a downwardly opening check valve in said mandrel below said test ports, bypass passage means in said housing below said recess connecting the lower portion of said housing with the well bore outside of said housing, said bypass passage means being open only when the mandrel is in its upper position, said mandrel being adapted to close said bypass passage means prior to bringing said test ports into register with said recess when said mandrel is lowered relative to said housing, and hydraulic means between said mandrel and housing for retarding thedownward movement of said mandrel relative to said housing but permitting free movement of said mandrel upwardly relative to said housing.

6. In an oil well tool of the class described, a tubular housing adapted to be connected at its lower end to a packer, a tubular mandrel slidable longitudinally within said housing in sealing engagement therewith and adapted to be connected at its upper end to a tubing string7 an internal recess in said housing intermediate its ends and above the lower end said mandrel, passage means in saidl housing connecting said recess with the lower end of said housing below said mandrel, test ports in said mandrel, said ports being out of register with said recess and closed by said housing when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing and in register with said recess when said mandrel is in its lower position relative to said housing, a downwardly opening check valve in said mandrel below said test ports, bypass passage means in said housing below said recess connecting the lower portion of aid housing with the well bore outside of said housing, said bypass passage means being open only when the mandrel is in its upper position, said mandrel being adapted to close said bypass passage means prior to bringing said test ports into register with said recess when said mandrel is lowered relative to said housing, hydraulic means for retarding the downward movement of said mandrel relative to said housing but permitting free movement of said mandrel upwardly relative to said housing, said hydraulic means including a pistony on the mandrel received within a liquid lilled cylinder on the housing, a fluid reservoir in the housing connected to the cylinder by a metering orifice, and a check valve opening from the reservoir toward the cylinder.

7. In an oil well tool of the class described, a tubular housing adapted to be connected at its lower end to a packer, a tubular mandrel slidable longitudinally within said housing in sealing engagement therewith adapted to be connected at its upper end to a tubing string, test ports in said mandrel, bypass ports in said mandrel below and spaced from said test ports, a downwardly opening check valve in said mandrel between said ports, a rst internal recess in said housing located between said test ports and said bypass ports when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing, passage means in said housing connecting said first recess with the lower end of said housing below said mandrel, a second recess in said housing in register with said bypass ports when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing, bypass ports in said housing connecting said second recess with the area of the well bore outside of said housing, whereby downward movement of said mandrel will move said bypass ports out of register with said second recess and will subsequently" m'ove' said test ports into register with said rstrecess topermit the fluid'vr in said housing to flow into saidmandrel. l

8. In an oil well tool' of the class' described, a tubular housing adapted to be connected at its'lower'end t'o a packer, a tubular mandrel slidable longitudinally within' said housing in sealing engagementtherewith adapte'dtto' be connected at its upperend to a tubingstringgtestports' recess in said housing located between said test ports and said bypass ports when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing, passage means in said housing connecting said first recess with the lower end of said housing below said mandrel, a second recess in said housing in register with said bypass ports when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing, bypass ports in said housing connecting said second recess with the area of the well bore outside of said housing, the distance between said test ports and the upper end of said first recess being greater than the distance between said bypass ports and the lower end of said second recess, whereby downward movement of said mandrel will first move said bypass ports out of register with said second recess and subsequently will move said test ports into register with said first recess to permit the fluid in said housing to ow into said mandrel.

9. ln an oil weil tool of the class described, a tubular housing adapted to be connected at its lower end to a packer, a tubular mandrel slidable longitudinally within said housing in sealing engagement therewith adapted to be connected at its upper end to a tubing string, test ports in said mandrel, bypass ports in said mandrel below and spaced from said test ports, a downwardly opening check valve in said mandrel between said ports, a first internal recess in said housing located between said test ports and said bypass ports when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing, passage means in said housing connecting said first recess with the lower end of said housing below said mandrel, a second recess in said housing in register with said bypass ports when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing, bypass ports in said housing connecting said second recess with the area of the well bore outside of said housing, the distance between said test ports and the upper end of said first recess being greater than the distance between said bypass ports and the lower end of said second recess, whereby downward movement of said mandrel will first move said bypass ports out of register with said second recess and subsequently will move said test ports into register with said first recess to permit the fluid in said housing to ow into said mandrel, and hydraulic means between said mandrel and housing for retarding the downward movement of said mandrel relative to said housing but permitting free movement of said mandrel upwardly relative to said housing.

l0. In an oil well tool of the class described, a tubular housing adapted to be connected at its lower end to a packer, a tubular mandrel slidable longitudinally within said housing in sealing engagement therewith adapted to be connected at its upper end to a tubing string, test ports in said mandrel, bypass ports in said mandrel below and spaced 'from said test ports, a downwardly opening check valve in said mandrel between said ports, a rst internal recess in said housing located between said test ports and said bypass ports when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing, passage means in said housing connecting said rst recess with the lower end of said housing below said mandrel, a second recess in said housing in register with said bypass ports when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing, bypass ports in said housing connecting said second recess with the area of the well bore outside of said housing, the distance between said test ports and the upper end of said first recess being greater than the distance between said bypass ports and the lower end of said second recess, whereby downward movement of said mandrel will first move said bypass ports out of register with said second recess and subsequently will move said test ports into register with said first recess to permit the fluid in said housing to ow into said mandrel, hydraulic means for retarding the downward movement of said mandrel relative to said housing but permitting free movement of said mandrel upwardly relative to said housing, said hydraulic means including a piston on the mandrel received within a liquid filled cylinder on the housing, a uid reservoir in the housing connected to the cylinder by a metering oriiice, and a check valve opening from the reservoir toward the cylinder.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,889,772 Campbell Dec. 6, 1932 1,905,208 Badgett Apr. 25, 1933 2,073,107 Johnston Mar. 9, 1937 

